UN condemns re-test
North Korea gives missile launch “excellent grade”
2/19/2023 7:41 am
Despite a ban by UN resolutions, North Korea is increasing the scope and speed of its missile tests. Another launch is celebrated in Pyongyang: It proves “the actual war capability” of the deployed ICBMs. Meanwhile, the international community has strongly condemned the latest tests.
North Korea says it has demonstrated the operational readiness of its own intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) during a short-term exercise. On Saturday, the responsible unit fired a Hwasongpho-15 ICBM in the direction of the Sea of Japan (Korean: East Sea), state media reported. After a flight of 989 kilometers, the rocket successfully reached its target area in the sea.
ICBMs are considered the most important means of delivery for nuclear weapons. All tests with ICBM and other ballistic missiles are forbidden to North Korea by UN decisions.
According to the reports, there was an “excellent grade” for the surprising rocket launch exercise. The Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party “appreciated the actual war capability of the ICBM units, which are ready for mobile and powerful counterattacks”.
“Serious provocation” by North Korea
The missile launch by North Korea was recorded by the South Korean military on Saturday. South Korea’s general staff accused the neighboring country of a “serious provocation”. The G7 countries also condemned the renewed launch of an ICBM in the strongest possible terms. The test is “a blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions” and threatens regional and international peace and security, the Japanese chairmanship of the Group of Major Industrialized Nations said. North Korea’s “reckless behavior” demands a unified response from the international community, including further clear measures by the UN Security Council.
North Korea is subject to tough international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program. The conflict on the Korean peninsula has become explosive again since last year. Despite being banned by UN resolutions, North Korea has increased the scope and speed of its missile tests. South Korea and the US resumed their joint maneuvers in full.
